Acquisition & Disposal Policy Name of Museum: West Berkshire Museum Name of governing body: West Berkshire Council Date on which this policy was approved by governing body: 5 May 2011 Date at which this policy is due for review: Three years after above, ie 5 May 2014 Museum A&D Policy 2011~14 May 2011 Page 1 of 21 CONTENTS 1 Statement of Purpose......................................................................................... 4 2 Existing Collections ............................................................................................ 4 2.1 Natural Sciences........................................................................................ 4 2.1.1 Mammals ............................................................................................... 4 2.1.2 Birds ...................................................................................................... 5 2.1.3 Fish........................................................................................................ 5 2.1.4 Insects, Butterflies, Moths, & Beetles ..................................................... 5 2.2 Geology ..................................................................................................... 5 2.3 Archaeology............................................................................................... 5 2.3.1 Local Archaeology ................................................................................. 5 2.3.2 Other British Archaeology ...................................................................... 6 2.3.3 Coins ..................................................................................................... 6 2.3.4 World Archaeology................................................................................. 6 2.3.5 Egyptology............................................................................................. 7 2.4 Social & Local History................................................................................ 7 2.4.1 Archive & Ephemera .............................................................................. 7 2.4.2 Textiles .................................................................................................. 7 2.4.3 Clocks & Watches.................................................................................. 7 2.4.4 Cameras ................................................................................................ 8 2.5 Fine Art...................................................................................................... 8 2.5.1 Local Artists ........................................................................................... 8 2.5.2 Local Subjects........................................................................................ 9 2.6 Decorative Art............................................................................................ 9 2.6.1 Ceramics................................................................................................ 9 2.6.2 Metalwork .............................................................................................. 9 2.6.3 Wooden Items........................................................................................ 9 2.6.4 Jewellery.............................................................................................. 10 2.7 Costume .................................................................................................. 10 2.8 Photographs ............................................................................................ 10 2.9 Local Studies Resources ......................................................................... 11 2.9.1 Books................................................................................................... 11 2.9.2 Maps.................................................................................................... 11 2.10 Handling Material..................................................................................... 11 3 Criteria Governing Future Acquisition Policy .................................................... 11 3.1 Natural Sciences...................................................................................... 12 3.2 Geology ................................................................................................... 12 3.3 Archaeology............................................................................................. 12 3.3.1 Local Archaeology ............................................................................... 12 3.3.2 Other British Archaeology .................................................................... 12 3.3.3 Coins ................................................................................................... 12 3.3.4 World Archaeology............................................................................... 12 3.3.5 Egyptology........................................................................................... 12 3.4 Social & Local History.............................................................................. 13 3.4.1 Archive & Ephemera ............................................................................ 13 3.4.2 Clocks & Watches................................................................................ 13 3.5 Fine Art.................................................................................................... 13 3.6 Decorative Art.......................................................................................... 14 3.6.1 Costume .............................................................................................. 14 3.6.2 Textile .................................................................................................. 14 Museum A&D Policy 2011~14 May 2011 Page 2 of 21 3.7 Photographs ............................................................................................ 14 3.8 Local Studies Resources ......................................................................... 14 3.8.1 Maps.................................................................................................... 14 3.8.2 Books................................................................................................... 15 3.8.3 Audio Visual Material ........................................................................... 15 3.9 Handling Material..................................................................................... 15 3.10 Geographical Area to which Collecting Relates........................................ 15 4 Limitations on Collecting .................................................................................. 16 5 Collecting Policies of Other Museums .............................................................. 16 6 Policy Review Procedure ................................................................................. 17 7 Acquisitions Not Covered By the Policy............................................................ 17 8 Acquisition Procedures..................................................................................... 17 9 Spoliation ......................................................................................................... 18 10 The Repatriation & Restitution of Objects and Human Remains .................. 18 11 Management of Archives ............................................................................. 18 12 Disposal Procedures.................................................................................... 19 12.1 Disposal Preliminaries ............................................................................. 19 12.2 Motivation for Disposal and Method of Disposal....................................... 19 12.3 The Disposal Decision–Making Process .................................................. 19 12.4 Responsibility for Disposal Decision-Making............................................ 20 12.5 Use of Proceeds of Sale .......................................................................... 20 12.6 Disposal by Gift or Sale ........................................................................... 20 12.7 Disposal by Exchange ............................................................................. 20 12.8 Documenting Disposal............................................................................. 21 13 Bibliography & Supporting Documents......................................................... 21 Museum A&D Policy 2011~14 May 2011 Page 3 of 21 1 Statement of Purpose The Museum is part of the West Berkshire Heritage & Tourism Service which was established to facilitate greater access - physical, intellectual and experiential - to the District’s rich cultural and natural heritage for residents and visitors alike, with the aim of promoting understanding and appreciation of this unique resource. The Heritage & Tourism Service’s mission statement is: To work with the community in caring for and interpreting their cultural heritage for the benefit of present and future generations The Museum also supports some of the Council’s aims to facilitate a thriving local community and good quality of life in West Berkshire, now and for the future , by contributing to corporate priorities. The Council believes that the long-term care and well being of these valuable cultural resources depends on the public’s recognition of their heritage and the history that lies behind it. The Museum has three priority aims with respect to its users and potential users: • to work with the community to develop a Sense of Place • to enthuse